1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to human services; directing the commissioner 
  1.3             of human services to study reimbursing home care and 
  1.4             personal care providers for transportation expenses; 
  1.5             proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.6             chapter 256B. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  [256B.766] [HOME CARE TRANSPORTATION.] 
  1.9      By September 15, 2000, the commissioner of human services, 
  1.10  in consultation with the Minnesota Home Care Association, shall 
  1.11  prepare a study and report to the legislature on reimbursing 
  1.12  home care and personal care service providers receiving 
  1.13  reimbursement under the medical assistance and general 
  1.14  assistance medical care programs; home and community-based 
  1.15  waiver services under section 256B.501; home and community-based 
  1.16  services for the elderly under section 256B.0915; community 
  1.17  alternatives for disabled individuals waiver services under 
  1.18  section 256B.49; community alternative care waiver services 
  1.19  under section 256B.49; and traumatic brain injury waiver 
  1.20  services under section 256B.49, for worker transportation 
  1.21  costs.  The study shall include, but not be limited to: 
  1.22     (1) an analysis of the characteristics of home care 
  1.23  provider worker transportation costs and needs; 
  1.24     (2) proposed methods of reimbursement, including, but not 
  1.25  limited to: 
  1.26     (i) per mile reimbursement; 
  2.1      (ii) per visit reimbursement; 
  2.2      (iii) countywide average per visit reimbursement; 
  2.3      (iv) per visit based on distance to the home care provider 
  2.4   office; and 
  2.5      (v) incorporating a transportation reimbursement amount 
  2.6   into statewide home care services reimbursement rates; 
  2.7      (3) options for funding transportation reimbursement; 
  2.8      (4) obtaining federal matching funds for transportation 
  2.9   reimbursement; and 
  2.10     (5) how home care providers may compensate their workers 
  2.11  for transportation expenses.